Flexible twist section for a conveying chute



July '23, 1957 w, MADDEN 2,800,211

FLEXIBLE TWIST SECTION FOR A CONVEYING CHUTE Filed Nov. 9, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR jYWMaJJen ATTORNEY y 1957 I H. w. MADDEN 2,800,211

FLEXIBLE TWIST SECTION FOR A CONVEYING CHUTE Filed Nov. 9, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I h v I INVENTOR N HWfi/Zzdden FYWW - ATTORNEY p, 2,800,211 a Patented. July 23, 1957 7 2,800,211 FLEXIBLE rwrsr SECTION FOR A CONVEYING CHUTE Homer W. Madden, Hanover, Ind. Application November 9, 1956, Serial No. 621,439 7 Claims. (Cl. 193-25) This invention relates to a twist section for a chute through which cans or other articles are conveyed from one point to another and more particularly to a twist section which is flexible so that the direction of movement of the articles being conveyed can be varied.

More particularly, it is an aim of the present invention to provide a flexible twist section which will enable one end of a chute to be swung or turned horizontally relative to the other end thereof for receiving cans or other articles at various horizontally spaced points or for delivering the cans or other articles to various horizontally spaced points.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawings, illustrating a presently preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a portion of a conveying chute, showing the flexible twist section interposed therein and forming a partthereof.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevational view of the flexible twist section, and adjacent parts of the conveying chute, looking from left to right of'Figure l, and on a somewhat enlarged scale;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view thereof, taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 3--3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an elevational view similar to Figure 2 but showing the flexible twist section in a twisted position;

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the flexible twist section, taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 5-5 of Figure 2, and on an enlarged scale;

Figure 6 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the flexible twist section, taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 6-6 of Figure 2, and

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view,

taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 7--7 of Figure 5.

to the outer sides of the four cornersof the collar 13. The upper ends of the support bars 18 are secured to the outer sides of circumferentially spaced portions of the ring 17, as by additional welds The frame 19 may also include four rods 21 the lower ends of which are secured, as by welds 20, in the four corners of the collar 13, which rods extend upwardly along the inner sides of the, angle bars 18 and have their upper ends secured to theouter side of the ring 17 and within the upper ends of the angle bars 18. However, said rods 21 may be omitted, if desired.

'The twist'section 10 also includes an upper rectangular collar 22, preferably of the same size as the lower collar 13, which is disposed above the ring 17. The diagonal width of the collar 22 is as great as the diameter of the ring 17, so that the four corners of the collar 22 can rest upon and be supported by the upper edge of the ring 17 Rigidpins orshort rods 23 have upper ends secured in said corners 24 ofthe upper collar 22. The pins 23 extend downwardly from the bottom edge of the collar 22 and have lower portions slideably contacting the inner side of the ring '17, as best seen in Figure 7, to retain the collar 22'centered above the ring17. The upper collar 22 likewise includes oppositely disposed corresponding short sides and oppositely disposed corresponding long sides 26. The short sides 25 have lugs 27 secured Referring more specifically to the drawings, the-flex- I ible chute section in its entirety and comprising the. invention is designated generally 10 and to illustrate the application and use thereof, said chute section 10 is shown in conjunction with adjacent portions 11 and 12 of a conveying chute, of which the section 10 forms a part. However, as the description proceeds it will become apparent that the flexible section 10 is not limited in its use with specific chute portions such as those disclosed at 11 and 12.

The flexible chute section 10 includes a bottom rectangular collar 13, as best seen in Figure 6, having outwardly extending lugs 14 secured toand projecting outarwdly from the outer sides of the two oppositely disposed shorter sides 15 of said collar 13. The collar 13 also includes the oppositely disposed longer sides 16. The collar 13 together with a rigid ring 17 and four rigid elongated supporting bars 18 constitute a rigid frame section 19 of the flexible twist section 10. The bars 18 h are preferably formed of angle iron and have lower ends which are secured, as by welding, as seen at 20;rigidly to the outer sides thereof and projecting outwardly therefrom. Angle members 28 have portions which are secured to the outer sides of the long sides 26 and which extend downwardly therefrom. Said members 28 have rigid outturned lower ends 29, outer portions of which are adapted to engage in the bottom edge of the ring 17 to limit the extent that the collar 22 can be displaced upwardly and away from the ring 17, and which combinemwith the pins 23 for swivelly mounting the upper collar. 22'on the ring 17.

A pair of sleeves 30 are secured to the inner face of each ofthe collar sides 26 and a single sleeve. 31 is secured to the innerface of each of the collar sides 25. The sleeves 30 and 31 are disposed crosswise of said sides and are secured thereto as by means of additional welds 20. As best seenin Figure 6, corresponding ends of two wire ropes or cables 32 are secured to the inner faces of each of the collar sides 16 and an end of single wire rope or cable 33 is secured to the inner face of each side 15. The wire ropes or cables 32 are secured to the sides of the collar 13as by means of welds 20. The cables 32 and .33 extend upwardly from the collar 13 loosely through the ring 17. .Upper portions of the cables 32 extend slidably through the sleeves 30 and upper portions of the cables 33 extend slidably through the sleeves 31. As seen in Figures 2 and 3, the cables 33 are somewhat longer than and extend to above the upper ends of the cables 32, for a purpose which will hereinafter become apparent.

Referring to Figure 1, the lower collar 13 of the twist section 10 is shown supported on the upwardly opening end of a rigid elbow 34 which constitutes the inlet end of the chute portion 12, and is secured thereto by fastenings 35 which engage the lugs 14 and flanges 36 of said elbow 34. A collar 37 constituting the outlet end of the chute portion 11 is disposed on and in registration with the upper collar 22 and is detachably secured thereto by fastenings 38 which engage the lugs 27 and similar lugs 39 ofthe collar 37. The chute portion 11 includes a flexible knee joint 40, enabling the part of said chute section 11, disposed above the collar 37, to swing vertically. The other, upper end of the chute portion 11, not shown, constitutes the inlet end of the chute. The chute may be supported in any suitable manner, as by a post or standard 41, the upper end of which is se- "cured to-the underside of the rigid elbow 34.

Assuming that the chute is to be utilized for conveying cans, for example, from sources of supply, such as machines by which the cans are manufactured, and which supply sources may be at a plurality of spaced points, relative to the twist section 10, the cans 42 will be 'supplied by gravity through the chute sections 11, 19 and 12, and with said chute sections disposed in the same vertical plane, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, it will be noted the flexible section 16 is not twisted. However, when desired, the upper chute section 11 can be swung horizontally to locate the inlet end thereof accessible to another source of supply and thisswinging of the inlet section 11 can be in either direction through an are. as l great as 135 from its position of Figure 1." Figure 4 illustrates the flexible twist section lfi'as it will appear after the upper chute section 11 has been swung approximately 135 counterclockwise from its position of Figure l, as viewed. from above. To effect this horizontal swinging movement of the upper chute section 11, the lower end 37 thereof swivels relative to the frame 19 and the collar 22 swivels about the ring 17 with said chute section 11. When the collar 22 is thus turned relative to the frame 19, the cables 32 and 33 slide downwardly in the sleeves 3b and 31, respectively, to accommodate the extent that the cables must be extended to assume their spiral positions of Figure 4 from their straight positions of Figures 2 and 3. The six cables 32 required. It will thus be apparent that the flexible chute portion 32, 33 can be twisted in either direction as required without interrupting the flow of cans or other containers 42 therethrough. I

The use of twist sections in connection with conveying chutes for cans and other articles is not new; however, all of such twist sections in the past have been of rigid construction whereas the present invention provides the first flexible or adjustable twist section. In addition to the advantages previously set forth for the adjustable twist section, it has been found that the flexible twist section is more practical in use than a rigid twist section as it is not subject to damage frequently occurring in the use of a rigid twist section where due to vibrations the rigid twist sections are frequently broken or damaged to an extent to obstruct the flow of cans or other articles therethrough.

It will also be apparent that the twist section 10 could be inverted from its position as illustrated where it was desired to have the lower outlet section, rather than the chute comprising an elongated rigid frame having a rigid rectangular collar constituting one end of the frame, a ring constituting the opposite end of the frame, and bars connected to said collar and ring and rigidly supporting the collar and ring in spaced apart relation to one another; a second collar of rectangular shape, means swivelly connecting said second collar to said ring for mounting the collar beyond the end of the frame defined by said ring, a plurality of flexible cables forming a flexible chute portion, said cables having corresponding ends rigidly securedto the frame collar, said cables extending longitudinally through said frame and through said second collar, and means supported internally of the second collar and through which portions of the other ends of said cables slidably extend, said frame collar being adapted to be secured to an end of one of two chute sections between which the flexible twist section is interposed and said second collar being adapted to be secured to the adjacent end of the other chute sec tion for swivel movement with said other chute section end relative to the rigid frame, said cable end portions sliding through said means of the second collar as said second collar is turned in either direction relative to the ring for causing the flexible chute portion formed by the cables to assume either a straight or spiral form.

2. In an article conveying chute, the combination with a first chute section and asecond chute section, of a flexible twist section interposed between, and connected to adjacent ends of said first and second chute sections, said flexible twist section comprising an elongated frame including a rigid rectangular collar constituting one end of the frame, a ring constituting the opposite end of the frame, and a plurality of bars connected to the collar and ring and'rigidly supportingthe collar and ring in spaced apart relation to one another, said collar being secured to an end of the first chute section; a second collar secured to an adjacent end of the'second chute section, means swivellyconnecting said second collar to the ring for mounting the second collar beyond the end of the frame defined by the ring, a plurality of flexible cables having corresponding ends secured to the. inner side of the frame collar, said cables extending longitudinally through the frame and second collar and forming a flexible chute portion, and means secured internally to said second collar and through which portions of said cables slidably extend and permitting said cables to be extended and retracted relative to the second collar as the flexible chute portion formed by the cables is twisted or untwisted in either direction between a straight and spiral form by swivel movement of the second collar relative to the rigid frame due to swinging movement of said second section aboutan axis coinciding with the axis of said flexible twistssection.

3. In an article conveying chute as in claim 2, said second collar being of a diagonal width substantially corresponding to the diameter of the ring whereby the corners of said second collar overlie portions of the ring, pins secured to the inner sides of said corners and loosely engaging the inner side of the ring for maintaining the second collar centered relative to said ring, and members secured to the second collar and having outturned portions engaging the inner edge of said ring, said members combining with said pins and corners to form the means for swivelly connecting the second collar to the ring.

4. In an article conveying chute as in claim 2, said collars being of rectangular shape including long sides and short sides, two of said cables being secured in each of the long sides of the frame collar and being slidably connected to each of the long sides of the second collar, and a single cable being secured to each of the short sides of the frame collar and being slidably connected to each of the short sides of the second collar.

5. In an article conveying chute as in claim 4, said last mentioned cables being longer than said first mentioned cables and extending to a greater distance beyond the second collar than the first mentioned cables when said cables are disposed to form a straight chute portion.

6. In an article conveying chute as in claim 2, the end portions of said bars being connected to outer sides of I the ring and frame collar, said bars being formed of angle iron. I

7. A flexible twist section for an article conveying chute comprising a plurality of elongated flexible cables, a rigid first collar to which corresponding ends of said cables are secured, a second collar through which opposite end portions of the .cablesextend, means secured to the inner side of said second collar and in which said last mentioned end portions of the cables are slidably received, said collars and means combining to support said cables relative to one another to normally define a flexible conduit converting said flexible conduit portion from a straight portion of rectangular cross section, means retaining said conduit portion to a spiral conduit portion, said cable end second collar in a predetermined spaced apart relation to portions being slidable through said first mentioned means the first collar, and said second collar being swivelly turnas the second collar is turned relative to the first collar.

able in either direction relative to the first collar for 5 No references cited 

